The bed parallels as a device portraying the lack of power that women hold in Athenian society, after having abandoned Medea “Jason has taken his royal wife to bed” , the past tense conveys an accomplishment of his new marriage with Creon’s daughter, therefore ‘officially’ ending his marriage with Medea. The adjective ‘royal’ is something that Medea will never be and that’s why Jason remarries. The emphasis on this quotation can be placed on Jason much like Medea’s rage.
Many describe Medea’s reaction to her abandonment to be an amoral act out of love. However, the extent to which Medea goes through with her bad reaction of a failed marriage, could give us an insight into even the Athenian’s opinion of women- as replaceable and volatile objects.
3 “Medea” Euripides Pg 6
4 Ibid. Pg 18
5 ‘‘Ibid. Pg 18
Similarly, Ibsen uses a central object on stage to represent the depression of women caused by their husbands. “The Christmas tree… in the corner by the piano, stripped of its ornaments and with burned-down candle ends on its disheveled branches” this visual imaginary of the tree is described in detail and symbolizes Nora’s sense to freedom and her psychological state. The green of the Christmas tree can be representing the envy within their marriage. Her ornaments, and the luxuries of life have been taken away by her marriage and Torvald and all that is left now is a “disheveled” woman, believing she may still have the opportunity to freedom. However, not only lack of freedom is portrayed by the Christmas tree, it also sets the mood for the rest of the play, the depressing atmosphere present, in contrast to the stereotypically cheerful atmosphere of the Christmas festival depicts the outer appearance of the marriage as being playful and pleasing, whilst the inside is a harsh contrast, filled with depression and sadness much like the “burned down candle ends”.
Essentially, Nora and Torvald have a spiritual awakening, which could be seen as a rebirth.
However, the objects are used to portray the lack of freedom. The piano represents the state of Nora which can be interpreted as, her emancipation or will and courage to stay in marriage. Showing that the truth is ‘ugly’ and that she is exhausted of being dehumanized by Torvald. Perhaps, Ibsen’s use of “the notes…wrapped up in pretty gold paper” depicts the greed or blinding of Jason’s corrupt marriage. The hyperbolic sense of gold can portray a pleasant marriage for an outsider, however an alternative reading would be a mockery on the poor marriage.Gold symbolizes glory, wealth and success and pretty represents beautifulness which contradicts the marriage of Jason and Nora. Essentially, the adjectives of ‘pretty’ and ‘gold’ reveal Jason’s ultimately superficial nature.
Furthermore, the piano and bed represent deception within the marriages.
Euripides and Ibsen try to make the marital status appear ‘saved’. Medea pretends that the situation is ‘perfect’ by saying, “I’ve dressed your brides and made your marriage bed” , this foreshadows animates, for example, their children are not aware of the gloomy relationship and she wants to give her children happiness by creating a facade. The tension that something ‘bad’ is going to occur is present as Medea is ‘overly nice’. Although the children aren’t conscious of the occurrences, Medea herself “smiles at the lifeless image of herself in the mirror” , conveying a paradoxical nature by contradicting her inner self with an external smile.
6 “A Doll’s House” Henrik Ibsen Pg 55
7 Ibid. Pg 26
8 “Medea” Euripides Pg 33
9 Ibid. Pg 38
Arguably, Nora looks at her marriage in an identical manner as Medea.
She is upset, miserable and depressed and shows this by “dancing more and more wildly and letting her hair fall” , Ibsen displays a very sensual and inappropriate imagery; effectively creating a careless, persuasive veneer of freedom. This polysyndeton, creates a shift in pace, significantly emphasizing her pretence and her need for happiness, which represents her psychological torment and anguish in the play. In comparison to Medea, “the grace and the perfume” of her show that she tries to hide her ‘dark’ side by covering it up. The theme of appearance and reality is explored through Medea’s façade. The perfume can be a way to mislead an outsider that into believing in a graceful and loyal marriage between her and Jason due to the positive aroma scent.
The Christmas tree in ‘A Doll’s House’ is decorated with “pretty red flowers” , the hyperbole ‘pretty’ corresponds to Nora’s exterior image. The ‘flowers’ are put in the materialistic tree; therefore emphasize the superficial atmosphere. Red can represent innate anger towards her husband as she is constantly being objectified. Nora evokes her husbands’ shame ‘’now the lamp’s been lit’’, which metaphorically foregrounds the truth being revealed with clarity instead of a façade. Whereas in ‘Medea’ “the glow of the golden robe’’ symbolizes the anger Nora is exhausted from, emphasized by the ‘glow’ and ‘golden’ alliteration and the assonance produced by the vowel sounds which Euripides uses to portray the long and tedious marital status reflected by the elongated vowels. Gold is a royal color which emphasizes the joy, wealth, greed and materialism within the relationship.
Ultimately, the use of objects by Euripides and Ibsen conveys themes of freedom and justice. The bed is central in ‘Medea’ representing love, trust and betrayal. The relationship between Medea and Torvald suffers from the lack of loyalty, shown by the different interpretations the audience can place on the objects. Whereas in ‘A Doll’s House’, where the Christmas tree has significance meanings in relation to the characters relationship as the tree symbolizes the state of marriage.
Effectively objects don’t only emphasize the difference between the female characters with their male counterparts, but mainly introduces the theme of liberation and social isolation of woman.
10“ A Doll’s House” Henrik Ibsen Pg 77
11 “Medea” Euripes Pg 32
12“ A Doll’s House” Henrik Ibsen Pg 53
13“ Medea” Euripes Pg 32
14“ A Doll’s House” Henrik Ibsen Pg 69
Bibliography
Books used:
Euripides (1993). Medea by Dover publications New York
Henrik Ibsen (1985) A Doll’s House by Methuen London Ltd
Websites used:
used on 2009-03-06
http://www.greektheatre.gr/greek_theater_masks.html used on 2009-03-07
http://www.bookrags.com/notes/dh/BIO.html used on 2009-05-30
Planning form:
Introduction:
In the novels ‘Medea’ by Euripides and ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen, both authors have chosen to use a variety of household objects as a tool in depicting the marital circumstances between characters.
First paragraph:
Initially, differences in the importance on the objects of the household are placed by the author. Ibsen places immense significance on the different objects in the household, and therefore places great emphasis on the directions given for the setting of the stage.
Also, history of Greek Tragedy shown in contrast to A Doll’s House
Second paragraph:
The roles of the protagonist and the antagonist are clearly defined in both “Medea” and “A Doll’s House”.
Third paragraph:
Before both women can liberate themselves from their loveless marriages, they have to go through a struggle with themselves and their husbands, to emphasize the suffering of women in a patriarchal society.
Fourth paragraph:
Similarly, Ibsen uses a central object on stage to represent the depression of women caused by their husbands. (the bed)
Fifth paragraph:
The main household objects are used to portray the lack of freedom. The piano represents the state of Nora, loneliness and softness.
Sixth paragraph:
Nora looks at her marriage in the same way Medea does
Seventh paragraph:
The connotations of things present
Conclusion:
Essentially, we can see similarities and differences between the two works created by Euripides and Ibsen such as search to freedom and justice.
“A Doll’s House” Henrik Ibsen Pg 23
2 Ibid. Pg 23
